Should the First Lady pay for her vacations/trips?

[A Cyrenian]

Do you think there should be a law that allows a First Lady so many vacations/trips per year? Lets say 4. If she wishes to go somewhere then she or her family would need to pay for the Secret Service & all other expenses that the taxpayers are picking up now.

I know this is going to come as a slam to Michelle, but I'm talking about future First Ladies.

I reallly don't think this is a unfair suggestion. It would help eliminate costly, unneeded expenses.

What do you think?

[Pat4ever]

FOUR vacations a year??? FOUR? I’m voting for ONE and make it effective immediately...desperate financial times and all. It’s been years since we could afford any vacation.

[John O]

I think the president and first lady should pay for ANY non-government business trip. I also believe the first lady and any children should NOT accompany the president on any government trip. We didn’t elect her, we shouldn’t be dragging her around the globe.

If she wants to go she should pay her own way.

[Mr. K]

Why does she have a PAID STAFF at all?

She holds no office

She should get NO “vacation”

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Marie Antoinette Part II - no wonder the French were so pissed off back in the late 1700’s.

[The Sons of Liberty]

She IS NOT an employee of the government, nor does she occupy any official position. She, her kids and any members of her entourage, should have to reimburse the taxpayers for every penny, including extra security, accommodations, meals, etc.

[all the best]

“First Lady”? I am no constitutional scholar but I do not think that term or position can be found therein.
That title implies that she comes before our wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and indeed all other American women. This is not an aristocracy. President’s spouse should have no special privileges, budget or staff. And certainly no taxpayer-funded travel other than with President.
This has nothing to do with the current mess. This has to do with a more constitutional and modest government.

[dblshot]

Vacations? This was a foreign outreach trip to advance the interests of the United States of America. If anything the First Lady (and since apparently Obama never had a girlfriend prior to meeting the fetching Ms. Robinson, only Lady)should receive a salary. Nancy Reagan said “Just Say No”, Michelle Obama says, “Just say Go!”

[Mister Da]

The Obamas should pay for their family expenses when on vacation. I do not expect them to pay for security costs nor the costs of Air Force One.

Having said that, the Obamas should lead by example by taking frugal vacations w/i the USA, so that those dollars spent will support US tourism & its jobs.

Not surprisingly, the Obamas are partying like there is no deficit, no debt, & no tomorrow.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I would never want to put a limit on the amount of vacations that a first lady or anyone would like to take in a given year. I don’t believe it is the government’s business how many vacations any of us take. I would only say that the Obama’s should always pick up the tab for their own vacations and admonish the American people to vote someone into office who has a wife with the decency to know how many vacations is enough.

[Havisham]

Do you want to re-elect Obama?

[A Cyrenian]

NO, I don't want him reelected. Most definitely NOT.

I want him to go away and shut the hell up. I'm hoping the people in this country are smart enough to see what problems he & his liberal friends have caused.

He campaigned of change, I didn't know he was referring to the changes that need to be made after he is gone.

SOB.

[Anima Mundi]

I agree. We don’t need a King and Queen and all the social stuff. The concept of “First Lady” should go away. A perfect time to get rid of it will be when we elect a Woman President. The eight years will allow time to notice that we can do without all of “that”.

[Cheetahcat]

That Ugly Fat Azz Joke of a Woman,The Wookie ,Hell Yes she should Pay, her own way!

[farmguy]

I don’t have a problem with the government paying for her travel. But, there shouldn’t be any blanket slush fund for travel. Congress should be required to approve beforehand, on an individual case by case basis, the true cost for each trip. With the first lady being responsible to pay for any overages with her own (non-government) money.

Oh, and after the trip, those true costs and amounts reimbursed should be published for all to see.

[Tallguy]

What the taxpayers underwrite is just a piece of the jigsaw puzzle. The rest is underwritten by private donors like the people that ‘donate’ the compound on Martha’s Vineyard. Wouldn’t we all like to know what influence THEY are buying with the Obama’s? It’s a tradition that has gotten out of hand since the Clinton’s basically blew it out of proportion. The Obama’s are taking it to a whole new level. It has to stop.